Some of the best alehouses are no longer new and interesting (5)

I believe the answer is:

stale

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'no longer new and interesting' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'some of the best alehouses are' is the wordplay.
'some of' indicates a hidden word.
'STALE' is hidden within 'best alehouses are'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for stale that I've seen before include "Mouldy or hackneyed" , "No longer take" , "past the sell-by date" , "Lacking freshness" , "no longer bearing interest?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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